Cushioned change-speed axle



Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED sTaTss 1,530,205 PATENT OFFICE'.

GLOVEB. E. RUCKSTELL, F BERKELEY, QALIORNIA.

cUsHIo'NED cHANeEsPEnn AXLE.

Application flied August 8, 1924. Serial No. 730,974.

` T0 all fwwm t may concern.'

Improvements in Cushioned Change-Speed\ Axles, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trai mission mechanisms for motor driven vehic es, and

more particularly to such mecliarisins in combination with the diil'erential gear sys3 tem ordinarily employed on the rear axles of automobiles. The primary function of mech- `anisms of this type is to provide a further variation of speeds to 'the rear axles, such a variation being particularly desirable in the `so-called two speed automobiles, as the Ford.

' My present invention relates particularly to a combined change speed planetary and differential gear system, and the primary ob-. ject of the invention isto provide a novel shock absorbing means in such system for preventing shock to the parts there-of when shifting from one speed to another.

In a copending application, Ser. No. 545,936, iled March 23, 1922, is disclosed a combined change speed planetary and di fferential gear system for automobiles in which shiftable means is provided lfor optionally locking the planetary gear system to rotate as a unit for direct drive or locking the sun gear thereof to a fixed element, and thereby causing the planetary system to rotate tlieiearound to produce a reduced speed drive. Another object of my invention is to provide resilient shock absorbing means in conjunction with the planetary gear system and the said 'xed element for preventing shock to the parts thereof when shifting from one speed to another.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consistsin the fea-tures of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.4 In such drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specilication, I have shown certain specific embodiments `of my invention, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied, and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification beinarelied upon for that purpose.

Referring to the figures of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the differential housing of the rear axle of a motor vehicle. l

Fig. 2 is a crosssection therethrough on hne 2-2 of Fig. 1'.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views showing modifications of Fig. 1.

Fig. 51s a cross sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Referring more yspecifically to the drawing by reference characters, 1 indicates the differential housing of the rear axle of a inotoi` vehicle, and 2 and 3 indica-te respectively the two axle shafts which aresecured to the rear wheels of the vehicle. Bevel gears 4 and 5 of the `differential gear system are respectively secured to the inner ends of the axle shafts 2 and The main driving shaft 6 extends rearwardly of the automobile and has a bevel pinion 7 on its rear end in mesh with a bevel gear 8 secured to the casing 9 of the difterential mechanism. This casing is rotatably supported at one end on the hub of the bevel gear 5 and at its other end within a bearing 10. A ring gear 11 secured to the casing 9 is in mesh with a plurality of pinions 12 of the planetary gear-system, the pinions 12 being rotatably supported on axles 13.

The spider 14 of the differential mechanism carries a plurality of bevel pinions 15 in mesh with the bevel gears 4 and 5. The spider also supports the inner ends of the pinion axles 13, the outer ends thereof being supported by an element 16 within the casing 9, and dowelled to the spider by pins 17.

The sun gear 18 of the planetary gear sys tem is in mesh with the pinions 12. An axially sl-idable sleeve 19 supported within an element 2O over the axle 2 has teeth 21 on its inner end in mesh with teeth formed on the inner bore of the sun gear, the sleeve and sun gear being thereby always locked against relative rotation.

A plate 22 is mounted in one end of the housing around the sleeve 19. The bore of this plate is toothed to cooperate with teeth 23 on the sleeve. As illustrated in Fig. 2, a pair of spring pressed plungers 24 en-- gage opposite sides of the plate and normally hold the saine in a lixed rotative posi tion. The springs 25 however, permit a limited resilient rotation of the plate in either direction for the purpose hereinafter described. The amount of such rotation and the resistance offered by the springs can be adjusted by rotating .the threaded bush-- ings 26.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modified form ot the plate holding means. In this construction, the compression of' the spring 27 can be varied by rotating the bushing 28, and the rotative movement allowedhthe plate 22 can be Varied by rotating the threaded pin 29. i

A further and non-adjustable modified form of the plate holding means is shown in Fig. L1. In this construction a portion of the housing 31 covers the plunger bore in the housing 1. A spring 32 engages the housing 30 at one end and the plunger 33 at its other end. The housing is held in place by tap bolts 34 and 35.

Within the element 16 is an element 36 surrounding the sleeve 19. The bore of this element is provided with teeth 37 to cooperate with the teeth 21 on the sleeve. Three radially projecting lugs 38-formed on the periphery of the element 36 are each ositioned respectively between two or t ree inwardly projecting lugs 39 on the element `16. A plurality of compression springs r 40 are mounted in the recesses thus formed between these lugs, each spring being in engagement with a lug 38 at one end and a lug 39 at its other end. A cover plate 41 holds the springs in place. The elements 16 and 3,6 are normall in the relative position illustrated in Flg. 5, but it will be understood that a slight relative rotative shock absorbing movement of these elements is permitted by the springs, as hereinafter described.

In the position of the sleeve 19 as illustrated in Fig. 1, the plate 22 locks the sleeve against rotation whereby the sun gear 18 is also locked against rotation. The Sleeve can be shifted outwardly by means of a yoke 42 pivoted to the housing 31 at 43. In the outer position of the sleeve, the teeth 23 are disengaged from the plate 22, and the teeth 21 engage withy the teeth on the element 36, such teeth 21 being also in engagement with the teeth of the sun gear 18. In such position of the sleeve, the sun gear and element 36 are locked against relative rotation.

'Ihe operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: With the parts in the relative positions illustratd in Fig. 1, the sun gear 18 is held against rotation, and the drivev from the shaft 6 to the axles 2 and 3 will be at a reduced speed, the pinions 12 rotatinv on their axles around the sun gear. Willen shifting the sleeve 19 outwardly and engaging its teeth 21 with` the teeth 37, the springs 40 are ada ted to compress sufficiently to prevent s ook to the driving parts thereof. In such position, the ring gear 11, pinions 12, sun gear 18, sleeve 19, and element 36 are all locked together as a unit, and the drive from the .shaft 6 to the axles 2 'and 3 will be at directspeed through the ring gear 11 and spider 14. When shift- 'ing the sleeve inwardly to the position il- Ilustrated in Fig. 1 wherein the teeth 23- thereof engage the teeth 0n the plate, 22,

the resilient mounting ofthe late as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, permits t e plate to rotate slightly in either direction suflieientl to prevent shock to the driving parts. t

ity of intermediate pinionsjournalled on'the differential spider and iny mesh with both gears, a normally fixed element, shiftable means `for optionally locking the inner gear to the Ii'ng gear for direct drive through the said sy em or to the fixed element for reduced d 've throu h the said system, and resilient sh ek absor ing means for preventing shock to the parts when shifting the first said mea-ns fr m ,one drive to the other. l

2. In a co ined change speed planetary and differential gear system, the combination of n inner gear, a ring gear, a plurality of int rmediate pinions journalled on the differential spider and in mesh with both gears, a normally fixed element, a sleeve conneeted to and coaxial with the inner gear, the sleeve being adapted in one axial position to lock the inner gear to the ring gear for direct drive through the said system, and in another axial osition thereof to lock the inner gear to the normally fixed element for reduced drive throu h the said system, and resilient shock absor ing means for preventing shock to the parts when shifting the sleeve axially from one position to the other. l

3. In a-combined change s eed planetary and differential gear system, t e combination of an inner gear, a ring gear, a plurality of intermediate pinions journalled on the differential spider and in mesh with both gears, a normally fixed element, shiftable means for optionally locking the inner gear to the ring gear for direct drive throu h the said system or to thel fixed element or reduced drive throu h the said system, and resilient shock absor ing means, including a plurality of compression springs arran ed coaxially around the inner gear and the differential mechanism and a part engaged by the inner gear, for preventing shock to the parts when shifting the first said means from one drive to the other.

4. In a combined change speed planetary and ldifferential gear system, the combinatween j tion of an inner gear, a ring gear, a plurality of intermediate pinions journalled on the dierential spider and in mesh with both gears, a normally xed element, shiftable means for optionally locking the inner gear to the ring gear for direct drive through the said system or to the xed element for reduced drive through the said system, and

means for permitting a slight shock ,absorb-l ing movement of the said normally fixed element when shifting the irst said means from one drive to the other.

5. In a combined change speed planetary and differential gear system, the combination of an inner gear, a ring gear, a plurality of intermediate pinions journalled on the differential spider and in mesh with both gears, a normally fixed element, shiftable means for optionally locking the inner gear to the ring gear for direct drive through the said system or to the-fixed element for reduced drive through the said system, and resilient means for permitting a slight shock absorbing rotation of the said normally fixed element 1n either of two directions when a plate, shiftable means for optionally lockp ing the inner gear to the ring gear for direct drive through the said system, or to the said plate for reduced drive through the said system, and a pair of resilient means respectively engaging opposite sides of the said plate and normally holding the plate 1n a fixed rotative position but resiliently permitting a slight rotation thereof in either direction to take up shock when shifting the said shiftable means.

GLOVER E. RUCKSTELL. l 

